Like it was myname.
Centuries of trauma, of rage, coursed through my body. My hands grew clammy, as fight-or-flight kicked in. Adrenaline pounded in my chest while I took deep breaths to calm myself.
“Tassarion Celèstian Everthorn,” Zemshaza purred.
The sound of his voice made my chest clench.
Made my stomach roll.
“Be a good little pet for your master and lie backdown. “
Like hèls I would.
I took stock of the tiny prison. There was the slab of rock where I was experimented on. The stone table to one side, covered in dried blood...myblood. The corner with a growing pile of rot where I was forced to relieve myself like some wildling animal. The wall with numerous chains hanging down its center where spools of chains hung with sharp hooks at their ends. Hooks Zemshaza used regularly to rip through flesh and bone. For once, I wasn’t shackled to the chains like a dog. The cell was barren of anything else. There wasn’t an item of clothing to be found except the ragged loincloth currently around my waist.
I had no clothes. No shoes. Bedding. Food. Water.
Nothing.
I tested my courage once more. Snapping my wings open, I charged the bars. This time, I collided into them with such barbaric force, they shattered like raven-hued stars. Wasting no time, I raced through the threshold of my prison.
Instantly, I inhaled sulfuric flame. Sucking in a sharp breath, I gathered my strength and lifted my wings. I looked around a bit lost. I’d been enslaved here for half a millennia now, but I rarely left my cell. And each time I’d been taken out, I’d been blindfolded. I would have to rely on nerve and a little bit of blind faith to blunder my way to the Realm Portal. Thanks to the blood that flowed in my veins, I would be able to sense it. If the Infinite was merciful, I would find it before anything else down here foundme.
Without wasting another moment, I picked a direction, and stumbled across the fiery floors. They were wet with fresh blood. I tried not to gag while I struggled to breathe past the smoky, ashen air. My wings were badly damaged so I opted not to fly.
Walking proved to be equally unpleasant.
I struggled immensely. I’d lost so much muscle in my legs. Had my bones broken and re-broken in the same place over and over. I tripped and fell. Smoke burned my eyes and seared my skin. Bits of fleshed flaked and flew away as my skin began disintegrating beneath the heavy weight of the fire. I grit my teeth to keep from crying out. Quivering from unrelenting pain, I quietly shoved myself back onto my feet and kept going.
Deep chasms interlaced the cavernous space, like jagged fissures, filled with blackened lava emanating a lavender glow. Above, endless, thorny, chains hung from the vaulted ceilings, each with the heads of disemboweled spirits attached to the ends. I kept my face forward, but stars. It was hard to avoid those trapped in the molten flames. My powers stirred. A song rose in my chest as I fought the ache that arose inside.
I wanted to sing to the souls trapped in this kingdom. The Souls Court of the Underrealm was a dark and wicked place to be banished for all of eternity. Squashing my empathy, I made my way through the darkness. I drug myself over elongated, unstable, coal bridges. Passed beneath nightmarish, gothicarchways with carved beasts that had open maws branded into the high perches. Shuffled beyond broken windows draped in tattered velvet that hid storehouses of siphoned souls.
“Help ussss,” voices hissed into the smoke that coalesced all around me. Several arose from souls trapped in the molten fires below.
“Soooul Bennnder,” they continued. “Wings of Namenthyssss.”
They dragged the words as their croaking voices kept begging.
“Use your ethèrrr. Use your innate angelic powers for usssss.“
A deep, rasping breath.
“Hallowed oneee.“
Another rasp.
“Areeee we not soulssss who deserveee to be freeee?”
I shuddered at the skeletal voices that curled into the air.
The souls were everywhere, loose and tormenting.
I blocked them out. I was sorry for them, but I wasn’t about to be trapped here any longer with them. I shuffled on, navigating this Infinite-forsaken manor towards my destination. I felt a tug oflight. As if the Realm Portal could sense me coming, so it was helping guide my way. I rushed through the growing cries, hating these rotting souls for calling me out.
A snarl to my left broke through my stupor.
I froze.
